PLEASE DON'T TUNE OUT :D And don't hate me. Sorry for how long the chapter is. I just needed to clear a lot of things up and add more detail to get you a better understand of things. Enjoy. And please review. I got five reviews last time. Thanks again for those who reviewed

I woke up, wishing I was still asleep. My heart was still aching over Adrian. Though it was selfish, I couldn't bring myself to be happy for him; I was a little bit bitter over the fact that he picked Sydney over me. I reviewed what happened that whole day, leaving Emily's house, the strigoi, the break up with Adrian, the movie, my choice on leaving for Russia-"

That is what I need to focus on. My weapons and trip to Siberia. First thing first, though, I need to find where my hunting group are at. Did they return to Omsk? Abe would know.

With that resolve, I got out of bed, took a shower and-unfortunatly, I had to go to the gift shop and purchase clothes, so I put on stuff that had a football team's name on it. Something State…Michigan State? Doesn't matter, its fresh, non blood stained clothes. I couldn't believe my mom didn't make me take a shower- I was that dirty and covered in blood. Uh, and we took a walk around town! No wonder why everyone looked at me funny. They probably were thinking I was a zombie! All I was missing was my arms extended out and the "aaaoohh."

Regardless, as I entered the shower, I felt all of the gunk leave my body. I stood in the shower, thinking of yesterday, and I realized, that with the gunk that is leaving my body, so are the problems that I will be leaving here today. I needed to leave for Russia as soon as I could. I will tell Lissa who Jill is, what her father did, get Abe to tell me where my gang is at, and leave. I also hoped to avoid Dimitri.

Emily and Jill are not going to be happy when they found out I left, and I won't be back for a long, long time. There was a big possibility I won't even return to the states. I'm not running from my problems, I'm running towards my destiny.

After I got out of the shower and got dressed, I sat down at the desk and booked a flight for late in the moroi world from my cell phone. I took a piece of paper that said the hotel's name on it, and drew a horizontal line in the middle of the paper. On both sides of the line, I wrote 'side one' and 'side two.' I drew a sword on each side of the line. Each side of the sword will have two tilted blades, so that the sword will be thicker in width. Above side one, I wrote 'In memory of' on one part of the tilted sword, and on the other tilted side, I wrote 'Guardian Mason Ashford.'

Mason needed to be remembered, and the sword reminded me of that horrifying day. Mason's death truly changed my life, and that is one of the reasons why I wanted to put his name down on my sword. But the main reason is the fact that Mason came back to save me-feelings aside. That was a true move for a guardian; help others that need it. I was an innocent, needing to be saved. Mason proved to be a guardian. Even if he didn't take his trials, he would have passed with Eddie and me. He deserved the Guardian title, and he needs to be recognized in some way; this is my way. I had a feeling that others would hear about my word. Maybe my sword would go down in history.

On side two, I was thinking about having someone translate it to Russian, and have it engraved as well: 'When fire meets fire…' on one part of the titled side and on the other 'When the Panthers meet the Lions…' We are the lions, the king of the jungle. We stay together to protect our children, cubs. The panthers are the next ferocious creatures next to the lions, but unlike the lions, they do not travel in packs. I am guessing it's because they can't stand each other, like the striogi can never stay with each other, otherwise they will kill each other. When we were kidnapped in Spokane, I had a feeling that Isaiah was not going to keep putting up with Elena much longer.

My outfit- as I started thinking about it, it sounded so very silly; it's like me trying to copy superwoman, or something. But I wanted the strigoi to remember me by more than just my sword, but a woman of war- someone not to fuck with. And somehow, having a killer outfit seemed like a good idea. It had to be leather, because leather is sexy, actually, that and it's a tough material to cut through (it's going to be thick). My pants are going to be held together with metal, that will lacing my pants in thr front, so that it holds the leather together. However the metal is not just any metal, it's going to be the same metal our stakes are made of- made of all four elements that the moroi yield in order to kill he strigoi. I will also have one long pocket on each leg at my thighs to hold my stake in, along with a gun.

My jacket is going is not to be low cut, but low enough to show my neck and collarbone. I am going to have silver buttons on the flaps, and the zipper is going to be mostly on my right side. The purpose of the jacket was to hide my sword in it.

My sword is not going to be as long as you may see on the movies, or back in the medieval era. It will be almost as long in length as my back. I will also have a silver holder for my sword that will be built into the back of my jacket diagonally, so I won't cut myself when I take it out, and I have enough room to move when I fight.

I was just going into what kind of bullets I will use when there was a knock at the door. I wasn't expect my mother to stop by quiet yet. I walked to the door, looked through the peephole, and opened the door.

"Rose!" Lissa yelled. "Why didn't you come when I called you?"

Every now and then when I was working at the desk, I felt messages go through the bond, asking me to come and see her. "If you didn't see, I saw my boyfriend cheat on me right in front of me; I think I had problems that I needed to deal with. And don't talk to me like that, I am not a dog."

She looked hurt that I said that, but she let out a breath and hugged me. "I'm sorry. I should have respected the fact that you needed to be alone. I was just so worried…even Sydney was worried. You never came back, and you were gone a long time." She hugged me even tighter. "When I saw your face…when we all saw your face…we wanted to be there for you, to give you comfort."

And that was exactly what I didn't want. "Did it ever occur to you that I don't want anyone's pity?"

She pulled away, shocked. "That wasn't what I meant."

"But that is what it is. Lissa, I don't care how bad you may think it is, I am actually tough. I can handle this problem alone."

That made her mad. "I know your tough, Rose. You proved it over and over to everyone. But going through this alone is-"

"My way of dealing. Just leave if that is why you came."

It was silent. The door was open, and I could hear someone walking across the hall. "Lissa I would like to-" Dimitri entered and felt the tension. I bet he saw the tention on both our faces.

"I will come back."

"No." Lissa said quickly. "You can talk to her. We are done." She turned and walked out of my room, shutting the door on her way out. Great another problem. What is she going to think when I tell her I am leaving the country? God, that's going to be a slap in the face to her. I do not want to hurt her, but I have to go, I want to go.

My eyes stayed on the door that she closed-more like slammed- a few seconds, then I looked at Dimitri.

"You wanted to talk to me?"I was hoping to avoid this. He was most likely going to tell me why we shouldn't be together.

"Yes, listen I-"

"I have something to say too." If Dimitri was going to tell me to fuck off and leave him alone, at least he will know that I won't be around him for very long. "First thing, does Vasilisa know about Jillian?"

He gave me one weird look, like I said something foreign that he didn't understand. "Yes, Lissa knows about Jill. You missed an intense moment."

I nodded. "Good." I was referring to the fact that Lissa knows about Jill. "Second thing, I am leaving."

"Okay, I will go with you."

I smiled. "No, not this time."

"Why not?" He demanded, he sounded angry. "I told you I am going to be there for you; you need-"

"-no one. I don't expect you to understand, why I am going. But understand this: I am going. You wouldn't want to come with me anyway, because Lissa is not coming either."

"Why?" He was very, very angry. His lips flattened into a hard line, and his eyes were like stones.

"Because it's too dangerous for her, or for any moroi." An idea came to mind, knowing he would never do it. "You can come with me as far as Omsk, but no farther."

"You are going back to Russia?"

I nodded.

"Why?"

I turned from him. "I have people there." I walked over to the desk, and he followed.

"Lissa needs you." He got frustrated when I didn't say anything. "For God sakes, Rose, you are her guardian now. You can't just leave her unprotected." He yelled in frustration, but there was an edge to his voice that cracked my heart. He loves you, stupid! That voice said in my head again

"Which is why I am resigning her over to you."

"You can't ju-"

"Congratulations, you got her. Now take care of her."

"This is madness Rose! You can't just leave and-" he looked down and cut off what he was saying. Clearly, something interested him more. What interested him was what I was working on.

He swore in Russian, and looked back up to me, his eyes looked like he was going to go crazy. "You are going to get yourself killed! Roza, this is insane!"

"That is me, Dimitri. I am insane. I was born to be insane. I do the dirty work no else will do! I am going to get back at them for what they did to us."

He was quiet for a few moments, looking at me with astonishment and realization."You weren't kidding with what you said in the car. You really are going to make them fearful of you. Rose, I would know that, that is impossible."

I gave him a cunning smile. "That, my dear Dimitri, is my specialty. If you haven't noticed, I make the impossible, possible." I waved my hand over his body. "Exhibit A."

He knew I had a point. "There are things that will always be impossible."

"I know, but even I have lines I do not cross."

"When will you come back?"

I kept quiet. He looked down at my drawings. "You miss him." It wasn't a question. It was a fact.

"He was a wonderful friend. One, you would have risked your life for. You would have liked him."

He looked back at me. "Mason would not want you to do this."

So, he is playing rough. Therefore, I got really defensive. Mason? He bringing him into this! "Mason!" I exclaimed in exasperation. "You know nothing about him, of what he would want! Mason would join me in a heartbeat if I asked him."

I walked passed, him, ending this conversation before it turned violent. Bringing Mason into this was a very, very bad move on his part. If he wished to keep his balls tonight, he wouldn't say another word about Mason and what he would want.

Just as I was passing Dimitri, he grabbed both of my upper arms and backed me up against the wall. "I haven't gotten what I wanted to say to you, out yet."

"Don't bother. I already know what it is."

He looked at me skeptically. "I doubt that. The Rose Hathaway I know, wouldn't act like this if she knew what I was about to say."

"You're right, I would cry right in front of you. But I have changed, I have gotten stronger."

He went silent, looking me over, then met my eyes. There was something in his eyes that made me shake in both fear and relief. It was that one thing I didn't want to investigate further when I was with him earlier. "I love you, Rose." And when he said that, it seemed like every letter shinned with truth.

I dropped my gaze to the floor. My heart felt both joy and hurt. Is that even possible?

"Your love faded." I said bitterly, pushing him off me. Why is he playing with me? "I recall those words quite clearly." My chest hurt, wanting to believe him. This is all just an act, trying to make me stay and get over Adrian quicker. I took two steps away from him. He grabbed me, pinning me to the wall with his whole body. This time, there was no space between us. I don't even think a crow bar would be able to pry us apart.

Before I could act, his lips were on mine, and electricity crackled. It was almost a painful relief. He was kissing me. That is what he came to do, and to tell you. A voice in my head said. He does love you! Believe it.

But I couldn't. He looked so sure that he didn't love me that day, so positive.

However, I couldn't help but kiss him back. Not only is he a fabulous kisser, but I wanted to kiss him. A lot; I wanted him back so much. That picture that Avory created came back to mind. My whole heart yearned for that. It yearned for that so much, I could cry out in pain!

He's dick thinking, Rose! I thought. Don't you do that either. Get away from him before you really want him. I pushed his chest, ending the connection. "No." I said with my voice thick. "I don't believe you."

"I wouldn't lie to you." He said husky, as if something consumed him and he was trying to stay on task.

"You lied to me before, plenty of times."

He didn't say anything, knowing it was the truth.

"You lied to be before about your feelings, how is this time any different?"

"Rose," his voice seemed strained, panic. That panic voice reminded me of that time when Natalie almost killed me; he saved my life, and killed her. "Please don't do this."

I felt tears coming down my face. "Dimitri I have to-"

He grabbed my shoulders, and squeezed gently. "You don't have to do anything you don't want to, Roza!"

"That's the thing, I want to do this. I want to get away."Because I knew seeing him and Adrian, will be too much to bear. "I want to go." I said, and it was a half lie, half truth.

His voice sounded defeated and his eyes looked pained, but tried again. "But…Lissa?"

"She has you. You trained me, so she is in better hands."

He shook his head. "No. You are the better choice."

I looked at his face, his eyes, his hair, then his lips. Those lips captivated me, and something ceased me. I reached up and kissed him. One of his arms wrapped around me, the other arm reached up and his fingers tangled in my hair, keeping me to his lips. My fingers tangled in his hair, and kissed him.

Later, I broke away from him. Not only needing air, but to tell him good bye. I meant that I was leaving. I had to leave. I knew what I had to do.

"Roza, don't leave me. Don't leave her."

I leaned my head against his chest and heard his heart beating fast. He does love me, I realized. And that made this all the more harder. I was meant to kill the strigoi. I have to kill them. I can feel that is what I was meant to do.

So, with that decided, how do you leave the people you love, that you are leaving to do something that could kill you? Right now, I wanted more than anything to put this off; but that isn't right. And the longer I put this off, the more of them I would have to deal with.

With a sigh, I pulled back to look at him. "I'm leaving."

His hold on me tightened. "Then I am coming. I am going to protect you." I felt every part of him spark with determination.

I shook my head. "I'm not leaving Lissa to just anyone. Besides, she's your hero, right? Are you really going to leave her?"

He looked torn. "Rose-"

"That is what I though. You need to stay here."

"I want you back here."

I laughed. "Dimitri, I'm not planning on coming back."

He went rigid. "Then you're not going."

I gave him a sad look and took his hand. "This is what I was meant to do." I reached up and pulled his neck down and gave him a kiss on the cheek, then left him there, dazed with my decision.

I practically ran to my Hummer, knowing he would come after me. I just left the parking lot when I saw him immerge from the exit. He stood there, a tear in his eye.

"I love you Dimitri." I whispered.

I had to go tell Lissa that I loved her, but I am leaving the country. I first went o Hans- well, president Hans, now. He was the person to deal with assinging guardians to the moroi.

"What can I do for you, Ms. Hathaway?" he took a drink from his coffee mug.

I smiled. "I want to resighn."

He didn't just spit his coffee out, it was a spray, like a sprinkler. The worse part, is it got on my shirt and face. Delicious.

"Excuse me? Is this some sort of sick joke?" He asked in complete and udder shock. Like everyone else, Hans knew how bad I wanted to be Lissa's guardian.

I shook my head. "I'm leaving the country. I have another calling." I looked at him meaningfully. "You understand, right?"

He sighed. "I usually understand women, but you are one confusing puzzle of a woman." I nearly laughed, but I just smiled.

"I have a request. Well, a demand really."

"Oh?" He raised his eyebrows, still in shock over my seriousness of resighning.

"I want Guardian Belikov to be Lissa's guardian again."

He smiled this time, like he had a secret to tell.

"Ah damn. He is already her guardian, isn't he?" I said in shocked excitement. "Who allowed him?"

"Queen Tatiana."

I shook my head.

"She has good judgement, and realized he is back to his original self."

"He is." I agreed. "Thanks Guardian Hans." I left.

"Good luck, Guardian Hathaway." He said, for the first time addressing my title. I left the building with a smile.

I knocked on her door and she answered, seeming to be surprised that I came. "Is…is everything alright?" She seemed reluctant to say anything to me.

I looked her over. She was beautiful as always. All I could think of is that she is my best friend, and I am leaving her. My chest suddenly hurt really bad.

"Rose, why do you look so sad?"

I shook my head, walked in and shut the door. "I'm sorry about what I said."

She nearly jumped on me. "Rose, it's okay. I'm sorry I was being so insensitive. I'm your best friend, not someone who should boss you around like a dog. I just didn't know how to handle the situation."

"I know. I was just hurting. I'm sorry, though."

"I forgive you, even though there really is nothing to forgive. I would have acted the same too." She was quiet for a moment, then she spoke. "Jill."

And that was all she had to say to get my complete attention, but my thoughts went straight to Eric. "Your father was a good man."

She smiled, but it was a sad smile. "I know, but…"

"No buts. He was. He made bad choices, but in the end it turned out to be a good thing."

"You have no idea." She said, and she sounded both excited and scared. I had a feeling I was missing something.

"What do you think of her?" I asked.

"To tell you the truth, I don't know what to think of her. I look at her and I see another woman."

I felt for her. It would be hard to come to terms with if my father cheated like that too. "Do you want her?" I asked, and that was the big question. Will Lissa recognize Jill as her sister?

"I really don't know, Rose. Jill is a good girl."

"But?"

"But I don't know if I want a sister that is from another woman. She isn't my full blooded sister."

"Since when has that stopped you from thinking of me as your sister?" I asked. We have been close, thinking of each other as sisters. But her not thinking of Jill as her sister, especially since her father's blood lingered in Jill's veins.

"That's different." Lissa defended, voice rising an octave.

"Is it?" I asked calmly. "You excepted Jill as a friend a while back." I sighed. "Can you just get to know her? She is really brave, and she reminds me so much of you. She admires you, Liss. Can you at least give her the chance to do good deeds with you?"

She smiled. "You make it sound like we are saving innocents."

I smiled in return. "You will be." Then I turned dead serious, and Lissa recognized that immediately. "I have some intense news, and you're not going to like it."

She looked at me, bracing herself for the blow.

"I'm leaving again."

She went still, then she glared at me. "You are leaving me again. Where to, back to Russia?"

I stayed quiet and she got the memo.

"Oh, for God sakes!" She sounded angry now. "You are running away from them, aren't you? Dimitri and Adrian. You are letting someone run you out of, not the city, or the state, but the fucking country!"

I looked at her, wide eyed. She hardly ever yelled at me like that before. "It's not that Lissa-"

"Oh cut the shit Rose! You know it's true. You are leaving me again, but this time it isn't to go to a guy, it's from a guy." She glared at me.

She backed away from me. "Get out. And don't come back."

I looked at her, shocked, but mostly hurt. She didn't even give me the chance to explain. "Lissa, it's not what you think. I have-"

"Go." She commanded. And this command, I couldn't ignore. She used compulsion.

I must have walked out of her room, because the next thing I was conscious of was a door slamming in my face. To me, it was a punch in the gut.

"You're really going." I turned and saw Dimitri. "I heard the whole thing." He answered my thoughts.

I looked away. "You won't understand."

He came up to me, and put his index finger under my chin to lift it up. "I do, actually. But I think it's reckless."

"You can say stupid."

"Will I ever see you again?"

I wanted to look away, but Dimitri wasn't having that. "I don't know, Dimitri. I don't know."

Someone cleared their throat. We turned and I noticed my father. "So, what is going on?" He sounded stern, and slightly upset.

"I'm going back to Siberia, Dad."

He smiled. "Uh huh. Well, you can come with me. I have business to attend to there, anyway."

I turned back to Dimitri. "Be careful."

I smiled. "Have a little faith, Comrade."

I turned and walked with my Abe to the airport. I walked a little bit ahead, but we were two yards from Dimitri when Abe said my name.

"Yes?" I said, turning to him.

He looked up from the hotel piece of paper. It must have fallen out of my pocket when I turned to walk. Both Dimitri and Abe were looking at it.

"What is this?" Abe asked, sounding interested.

"Just an outfit and weapons I was going to create."

Dimitri lifted an eyebrow. "I saw the sword, but didn't pay any attention to the outfit. What is it made out of?"

"Leather and metal that we kill the strigoi with."

Dimitri and Abe looked at each other like, 'umm.'

"Rose, what are you trying to prove?"

I walked up to my Dad. "Dad, I'm sending a message."

He gave me a sly smile. "I can only imagine what that message is. I will have it made for you. Black seems like the appropriate color."

Dimitri didn't say anything, and I could tell that he didn't like this idea.

Men.

"Dad, can you contact contact Denis for me?" I knew I didn't have to elaborate who Denis was, he would know.

He nodded. "I'm on it."

Just so everyone is aware, I HATED WRITING THIS CHAPTER! It broke my heart, and I am the one who wrote it! But I wanted the unpromised ones to return in Last Sacrifice, and I wasn't sure how to tell Lissa and everyone else that Rose was leaving. This is what I came up with, but I bet Richelle Mead would have done a BETTER job than I did. she is amazing.

But I want your insight on what you didn't and did like. I didn't like this chapter period, mostly because…well, you would know if you read it.

But don't tune out of my story just yet, believe me. It gets much, much better. You think the last couple chapters were good. JUST YOU WAIT!

Peace:

Rose